Motor attachment for vehicles.



. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908;

J. O. HIGDON.

MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 21, 1905.

1 z sums-sum: 1.

No. 893,498. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908'.

- J. 0. HIGDON.

MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 21, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

, To all whom it may concern:

UNITED ums PATENT OFFICE.

aroma oLARK HIGJIJON, on ST. LOUIS, Mrssdum.

MOTOR n'r'mcm mnr FOR. VEHICLES.

Patented, July 14, 1908.

' Be it known that I, JOHN CLARK HIGDON, a citizen of the United States,'and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor Attachments for Buggies and other Vehicles, of. which thefollo'wing is 'a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s,'forming a part hereof.

y invention relates to automobiles, and consistsin the novel construction and a1.- rangement of parts hereinafter specified, and pointed out in the claims. n

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive motor mechanism a which may be quickly applied to ordinary bu gies and other vehicles without substan- ,tia y changing any part of the vehicle to which the attachment is to be connected, and whereby ordinar vehicles maybe-converted into automobi es.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is aside eleva tion ofan ordinary buggy having my motor attachmentapplied thereto; Fi 2 is a plan view of same with the bodyof t ebuggy removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an ad-' justable motor'frame made use of in carryin out my invention; Fig. 4 is a detail sectiona view of aportion of the motor frame and one of the journal bearingsjswiveled and loosely connected thereto; Fig. 5 is a detail perspec tive view of (meet the swiveling ournal bearings; Fig. 6 is a detail view of t e thill cou ling steering attachment.

eferrin'g by numerals to l 1 ,and 2 respectivelyindicate the usual nonrevoluble front and rear axles having the reach ands'prings supporting the usual body, A although it will of course be understood that I do not confine myself to this form of running gear reach or body, and my attachment may as well be applied to any other form of vehicle now belng propelled by animal power.

It will be observed that I have not changed any portion of the running gear or body, with the sole exception that I have omitted the usual shafts or tongue, and have fitted to the front axle one of the usualthill shackles 3, and short vertical steering stubs 4, which have a hole near their up er ends. ing through the holes in t e upper ends of the stubs are steering rods -5 having their outer ends threaded, and rovided with adjusting nuts 6 whereby sai rods may be tig I tened be altered, as the operator desires.

the drawings Emma.

or loosened. The inner ends of said rods- 5 are preferably provided with an eye 6, or other suitable means for connectin the same to-the common sprocket chain 7, w ch latter connects the inner ends of said steering rods,

"and asses over a s rocket wheel or pinion 8,

whic is fixed on t e lower end of a steering 7 together with the front axle lilform a figure approximating a triangle, so t at whenever said steering wheel is turned by the operator, said front axle 1 will be correspondingly moved, and the direction of the vehicle e front wheels 12 and rear wheels 13 are of the wheel 10 is usual form, and of comparatively large diameter, and are loosely mounted to rotate on the axles.-

. 14 indicates a largesprocket wheel which 1 Q is fixed uon the inne'rends of the hubs of the rear w eels-13 so as t be driven by means of a common sprocket hain 15 extending from said wheel 14 to an additional s rocket Wheel 16. fixed on the projecting on of the transverse shaft 17 which extends transverselybeneath the body of the vehicle, and

is mounted in suitable bearings 18,

At this point, I desire to state that I may use -Wl18.15'1S known as a one-wheel drive,-

and make use of only one chain 15;v but in other cases, I may use what is known as a two-wheel drive which I-have illustrated,

as shown in the drawings; and, in the latter case, I make use of two main drive chains,

15, located one on either side of the body.

Itwill be observed that the ends ofthe shaft 17 project a considerable distance beyondgthe sldeof the body, and I may state that "such-arrangement is provided for two purposes -the first of whichfis topro- 1 A combined reach bar an,

chain tightener 19 'adjustably connectsthe outer portions of the shaft 12 with the rear axle 2, and the specific construction of said reach bar is described as follows: Fixed on the rear axle 2, adjacent the sprocket wheels 14 are additional common thlll shackles 3,

f adjustably connected therewith of lock nuts 21.

2 are ivotally connected at 22 to a bearing and pivotally mounted in said thill shackles are the rear ends of said reach bars and chain tighteners 19. The main body .ofsaid part 19 is preferably made tubular, and an additional threaded (part is mounted telescopically in sai tubular art; and

The forward ends of part 23, which is mounted upon said shaft 17 at a point between a collar -24.and the hub of said sprocket wheel 16;

1 make rise of one or more h dro carbon motors, 1 85.011 account of their 'ght weight,

and in case but a sin le motor is used, preferably locate it on t e right-hand side of the body, in the space between the 'chain15 and the -bug y body for two reasons. The

main reason or so locating the motor is that there" may be no'obstruct'ions of any sort either in front or rear of it, thereb greatl augmentin the process of air coo ing, as

have foun by two months constant use it will not overheat when so located.

It will be observed-that there is a clear path for the air to pass both in front and rear ofthe motor, and there is also an air space between the motor and the buggy body. The motors in the present instance are of the usual inclosed fly wheel type, but

it is clear that I may make use of any com-' mon form of motor with the fly wheel on. -'the outside of the crank cased are provided with the usual he motors appliances such as carbureters, mufflers, an sparking devices, but which I do not show on account of their well known construction'.'- The motors are supported in a curved saddle 25, which ,is provided at its ends with perforated ears,

through which pass stubs or bolts 26 at the outer ends of the. motor, supporting the cross-bars 27. -The motors may be'secured 'lar metal frame the entire motor mechanism shown in Fig. 3, although ofcourse I do not to'the supporti saddlesbgrvmeans of bolts or screws, 28; w ich passt dles and engage the crank case, or any other commonsubstitute-finiay be used for this. purpose I mount upon a special po'i table' rectanguexce'pt those parts which are carried b the rear wheels. Thisv framefis more c early limit myself-to the exa ;t details therein cithibite'd. for instance, I have shown the frame transversel' adjustable to fit-different widths of buggy oldies. V erably composed of two angle iron side ars,

The frame is ref- 29,.and a rear cross bar 30. However, the

' adjustable feature maybe dis ensed with, and the'entire frame may be made in the form of an integral malleable casting,' drop y means Ough said, sad-.

forgingor stamping. The motor cross bars 27 and the rear cross bar 30 are provided with the perforations 31 of which suitable bolts, 32, or common rivets may be passed, in order to clamp the, parts securely together. '.The

usual sills, 33, of the buggy body by means of bolts, 34, passing through the holes, 35, formed in theangular side bars ofsaid frame.

36 indicates a transverse counter shaft,

body, with its ends projecting a slight distance beyond the side edges of said frame. Mounted upon the projectin'g'end or ends of said cqunter'shaft 36 is a-toothed wheel, 37, which is preferably provided with a hand 39 may be directly connected in some cases by intermeshin their teeth, although injthe present easel ave shown them connected y common sprocket chaln, 40} so that one or both of the motors maybe used to drive said counter shaft. Mounted on said counter shaft is, a common planetary. changespeed course, if no planetary gear isdesired the same may be omitted, and the sprocket wheel '45 may be fixed directly upon-the counter shaft 36. All of the bearings of the I may bearings if so desired?" Referring again tof'F observed "hat each of the' bearingsQ181-isfiprovided upon itsupper-side witha piyot, 46, -whic h may engage eitherlonejjof a-seri'es of apertures or recesses, bars' 29, and the motor frame thereby pervtion isto order tha placed upon thern during operatiqm I other words, the swiveling of the bearings 18 crank; Said wheel 37 is cared to a pinion, :39, on the motor. Said w eel 37 and pinion counter shaft, 36 and the front transverse shaft 17 arepreferably of the formshown in? be i2o perforated overlapping inner ends, through metallic motor frame is secured beneath the which is mounted bearings 18, and extends across the frame beneath the buggy gear, 41, the construction or function of t I which is so thoroughly understood that same mon sprocket wheel, 43, may be fixed upon the shaft 17,- and the chain 44 will connect saidwheel 43 to another sprocket wheel 45, carried by said planetary gear 41. Of

. H V Fi s. 4 andi5, wherein the shafts passthrough 1 a p ain bearing 18, although itfis evident that make use ofj'com-monj ball orroller v 47", termed in the side forms a two-fold function. ,Thefirst-funeermit said bearings ltolsw'ivel, in

8 there may be-n'o un'due' stress preferably ,"the frame. When it is less friction, as I have found during practical operation. The ends of thebearlngs are which the bolts being'mainly to support the weight'of said bearings, andnotto i idly bind'them to esired to tighten the chain'40-44, it ,will only be necessary to loosen the nuts of the bolts 34 and'locate the bearing pivots 46 in other holes, 47.

49' indicates a. combined retainer and friction brake for the. steering chain '7. This part 49 is preferably in the form of a heavy steel spring, one end of which is secured to the cross bar 11 b means of bolts, '50, and

i the free end of sai part 49 is made to formbly e age said chain 7, in order to hold the same mly in position upon the steering pinion 8, and also for the purpose-of retards mg the movement thereof, as it is clear that b forcing said part 49 into contact with the c ain, the movement of same will thereby be impeded an amount corresponding to v the pressure imposed u on said chain by said art 49. In operation, part 49 has roven ghly efficacious, preventing sudden uctuations of thesteering wheel 10 when the front wheels, 12, strike a large obstruction. The operation is as follows: When it is desired to start the motor or motors, the operator will first of course give proper attention to the usual carbureters and sparking a paratus, and will then grasp the crank hand l 38 and give the motor an initial'movement for the purpose of drawing in a charge of gas and thereby starting the same, after which the operator will of courseiwithdraw his hand from the crank handle.- 38, which will continuously revolve with the counter shaft 36 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Motion will be imparted from the sprocket wheel 45 to the sprocket wheel 43 on t e transverse shaft'1-7, and from thence through the sprocket wheels 1 6 to the sprocket 'wheels 14, and the rear wheels 13. In tightening or loosening the main drive chain 15, it Wlll only be necessary to manipulate the lock nuts 21. ofthe'chain tightener-1920. The sp-ped of the vehicle will of course be contro edby increasing or diminishing the s eed of the motors in the usual-way, and a o by manipulating the planetary gear 41 in the usual manner. "'When it is desired to stop the vehicle, the brake bands of the planetary gear wlll of course be released and the motor speed be diminishedi .Inmanipw lating the steering wheel 10., theoperator will of course .understand that by turning the said wheel in one direction the front axle 1 glhtly sprung, and such swiveling movement rovided with slots,- 48,"through 'olts 34 are passed loosely, as it will-never be necessary to forcibly ti hten the nuts on said bolts, the function 0 said held by the support there is a free a1r space between the side ofwill be 'swiveled in a corresponding direction,

and vice versa.

I do'not herein claim the steering gear, as I have made the same the subject matter of a divisional a plication',

WhatIcaimis: V j

1. The combination with a vehicle'body and running gear, of a frame applied to the under side of the vehicle body, a support projecting laterallyffrom one side of the frame, and an air-cooled hydrocarbon motor such a position that the vehicle body and said motor. 1

2. The combination with a vehicle body and running gear, of an adjustable frame detachably positioned on the under side of the vehicle body, a supportprojecting later- "lly from one side of the frame, I cooled hydrocarbon motor held by the support in such a position that there is a free air body and said motor. )1

3. The combination and running ear, of a frameiapplied to the under side 0 the vehicle body, a support rojecting laterally from one side ,of the frame, an air-cooled held by the support in such a position that there is a free air space between the side of the vehicle body and said motor, and driving connections between the motor and the running gear of the venlcle.

4. .A d 'ving mechamsm for trehicles, comprising an ad ustable frame detachably aplied to the vehicle body, a support proectinglater-ally from one side of t e frame, an air cooled hydrocarbon motor carried by the support, and a driving connection from said motor to one of the wheels .of the vehicle. 5. The combination with a'vehicle, body and itsrunning ear, of a-transversely adjustable frame etachably applied to the under side of the" vehicle bo y, a support projecting from one side of said frame, a saddle arran ed on the end of the support, an air coole hydrocarbon motor seated in the saddle, and a driving connection from the motor to one of the wheels of the vehicle. 6. Thecombination with a vehicle body and its running ear, of a transversely ad- 'ustable frame etachably a plied to the under side of the vehicle vbo a support 'pro'ecting from one side of the frame, an air cooled hydrocarbon motor carried by the outer endof the support, there being an air space between said motor and the side of the vehicle body, journal' boxes adjustably arranged on the frame, a driving shaft and a counter shaft mounted in said 'ournal boxes, a driving connection from sai counter shaft, a driving connection from the counter. shaft to the drivin shaft, and a driving connection from the living shaft to one of the vehicle wheels.

and an air-"- space between the "side of the vehicle motor to they with a vehicle body hydrocarbon motor 1 supports projecting laterally-from each side of the frame, an independently operating air cooled hydrocarbon motor detachably carried by each air of supports in such a manner as that t iere is a free air space between each motor and the adjacent side of the vehicle body, and driving connections from the motors to the rear wheels of the vehicle running gear.

and its running gear, of a suitable motor supported by said body, a light semifiexible transverse driving shaft operatively connected to said motor and mounted so that its end projects across a considerable s ace at the side of said body, a sprocket w eel fixed on the vehicle wheel, another sprocket wheel fixed on the projecting .end of said shaft, a chain connecting said two sprocket wheels, a shackle on the axle, a bearing at the outer end of said shaft, and a reach bar having its rear end pivotally connected to 8. The combination with a vehicle body shaft wit said shackle and its front end connected to the bearing at the outer end of said shaft.

9. The combination with a vehicle body and its running'gear, of a frame detachably applied to the under side of the body, a'

motor supported by the frame a transverse shaft carried b the frame an operated b the motor, bot ends of which driving sha t ends of the driving shaft, sprocket chains connectingl the two sprocket wheels on said shackles onthe axle, bearin s on the driving shaft, and adjustable reach-ham havin their ends pivotally connected to the shac e and to the bearing. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses."

JOHN CLARK HIGDON. Witnesses: j

- M. P. SMITH,

E. M. HARRINGTON.

those on the vehicle wheels, 

